The Prowinter Award, prize that celebrates the technical and commercial excellence of products dedicated to the world of skiing and winter outdoor sports, returns in 2026 for its fourth edition bringing significant new features and a growing focus on environmental responsibility.
Organized as part of Prowinter, the leading B2B trade fair for outdoor and winter sports industry, taking place at Fiera Bolzano from 11 to 13 January 2026, the Award is one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the event, dedicated to showcasing the products that will set the trends for the coming season.
Originally created to provide retailers and rental professionals with a practical and strategic tool to identify products with the highest market potential, the Prowinter Award has become a benchmark for the entire industry and a key observatory for innovation and technical excellence, highlighting brands that stand out for performance, design and the ability to tell an authentic story.
Products will be evaluated through a transparent and structured scoring system combining technical expertise and market insight. The six criteria are: innovation, marketability, technology, design, storytelling and environmental responsibility.
This last criterion, a new feature of this year, spotlights products that are particularly noteworthy in terms of green, analyzing recycled or recyclable materials, low-impact production processes, durability, ease of repair, sustainable packaging and recognized certifications.
The 2026 edition marks a decisive step forward in Prowinter’s commitment to sustainability, also thanks to the introduction, for the first time, of an external ESG consultant, who will support the jury in evaluating the materials submitted under the environmental responsibility category.
A concrete sign of attention towards an increasingly responsible and transparent approach, which goes beyond aesthetics and performance, to also reward the positive impact on the environment.
The Prowinter Award 2026 features 10 categories divided between the Ski and Outdoor sectors, evaluated by two panels of specialists and enriched by a Special Prize dedicated to cross-country skiing:
Categories “Ski”
- Alpine skis – Top Performance
- Alpine skis – Allmountain
- Ski touring skis
- Alpine ski boots – Top Performance
- Alpine ski boots – Mid Performance
- Ski touring boots
- Prowinter Award Special Prize 2026: Cross-country skis – Classic technique
Categories “Outdoor”
- Winter Active footwear
- Winter Expert footwear
- Technical shell jacket
- Technical mountaineering trousers
The award aims to recognize companies that present innovative, compelling and commercially relevant products, offering professionals an objective and reliable reference to guide purchasing decisions ahead of the 2026/2027 season.
«With the Prowinter Award, we want to highlight the technical quality, innovation and authentic design that make each product unique. Our goal is to offer companies, retailers and technical operators concrete tools to anticipate market developments and new consumer needs» says Geraldine Coccagna, Brand Manager of Prowinter. «Particularly, we want to raise awareness within the sector on sustainability issues, encouraging brands and retailers to integrate increasingly eco-friendly practices and solutions in order to build a winter sports sector that is increasingly innovative, sustainable and future-oriented».
Applications for the award are open until Monday 1 December 2025 to all exhibitors of the trade fair, each of whom may submit one product per category.
The winners will be announced on 11 January 2026, during the opening ceremony of the 25th edition of Prowinter, where the finalist products will also be presented.
All nominated products will be showcased in the Award Area for the entire duration of the event.
For the complete regulations and to submit your product: https://www.fierabolzano.it/en/prowinter/prowinter-award
